By Vin Scully
MADAWASKA — On a crisp October night at Wrigley Field, the baseball gods blessed us with a classic postseason tale, full of thunderous home runs, gutsy pitching, and the bittersweet tension of playoff baseball. The Ottawa Nationals clinched the final Wild Card spot, dispatching the Madawaska Mud Hens in an 8-3 showdown that had all the hallmarks of October drama.
The Nationals wasted no time, pouncing early. In the top of the first, Ottawa struck with surgical precision, opening with a leadoff walk by Seiya Suzuki, a single by Luis Rengifo, and a double from Ozzie Albies that sent Suzuki scampering home. The ever-reliable Marcell Ozuna added a groundout RBI, giving the Nationals a 2-0 lead before the Mud Hens had even settled into their defensive positions.
The Mud Hens were on their heels as Ottawa kept its foot on the gas. In the second inning, third baseman Jorge Polanco launched a towering two-run homer to right-center, giving the Nationals a 4-0 cushion. Ozuna, not content with one RBI, delivered a solo blast in the third inning, making it 5-0. The veteran designated hitter, who has thrived in high-pressure situations, would prove to be the night’s hero, going 2-for-4 with four RBIs.
But, as they say in baseball, momentum is fickle. The Mud Hens found a pulse in the fifth inning, thanks to a leadoff double by Willson Contreras, who was promptly driven in by Ha-Seong Kim. Despite the run, Nationals’ ace Zac Gallen remained unshaken, pitching six innings of one-run ball, fanning nine, and walking none. His masterful command of the strike zone set the tone for the Nationals’ bullpen to seal the deal.
Yet, the Mud Hens refused to go quietly. In the eighth inning, Brandon Nimmo sent a charge into a pitch from Drew Rasmussen, a two-run homer to right-center that cut the Nationals’ lead to 8-3. As the crowd buzzed with the possibility of a miracle comeback, Rasmussen settled down, ensuring no further damage.
The final inning arrived, and with it, the unmistakable pressure of playoff elimination. But the Nationals, anchored by steady defense and a relentless lineup, closed the door on Madawaska’s dreams. When the last out was recorded—a strikeout by Contreras—it was the Nationals who erupted in joy, knowing they had punched their ticket to the next round.
The Nationals’ offensive strategy was balanced and effective, capitalizing on timely hits and taking advantage of the Mud Hens’ pitching struggles. Starter Jordan Montgomery, though talented, struggled to keep the Nationals’ bats in check, surrendering five earned runs over five innings. The Nationals’ seven hits were spread across key innings, showing a team not reliant on any single star but rather a full lineup committed to advancing deeper into October.
For the Mud Hens, the loss marks the end of a Cinderella run that brought them within a hair’s breadth of playoff glory. Despite the defeat, they leave the field with their heads held high, knowing they pushed the Nationals to play their very best.
As the dust settles at Wrigley Field, the Nationals now turn their eyes to the next round, where they will face even greater challenge in the North Bay Trappers. But tonight, under the twinkling Madawaska stars, the Nationals are kings of the Wild Card—a reminder that in baseball, hope springs eternal until the final out.
Final Score: Nationals 8, Mud Hens 3.